If we take the votes as endorsement of policy, then the voters are voting for greens first and overwhelmingly, labor second. It would seem the voters of the greens feel their policies are in line enough for alp to be their second choice, above other parties large and small.

If you think the voters are misinformed and votes are not an endorsement of policy, (at least best policy availabke to vote for) then there is not really a discussion to be had, outside of marketing and politicking.

I don’t see a rational explanation as to why that would be the case outside of the article proposing that it’s a positioning against lnp. However, even then it doesn’t explain it to the extent it occurs.